Rumors rife on Dorodjatun resignation

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Rumors were spreading quickly on Tuesday evening that Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti had tendered his resignation to President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

However, the rumors were rejected by an assistant to the coordinating minister for the economy, Dipo Alam, who claimed that they were false.

"These are rumors. They are not true. He (Dorodjatun) is here with me in Aceh on a working visit," Dipo told The Jakarta Post, adding that Dorodjatun was scheduled to visit Lhoksumawe on Wednesday.

Talk of Dorodjatun's resignation emerged on Friday, claiming that he had had tough arguments with the President regarding the issue of foreign debt.

Dorodjatun brushed aside the rumors saying that he had never had any intention to resign from the ministerial post. The rumors came to the fore again on Monday after a Cabinet meeting on investment.

Speculation continued on Tuesday morning as the President summoned Minister of Finance Boediono and State Minister of State Enterprises Laksamana Sukardi to her official residence on Jl. Teuku Umar.

According to informed sources, the President, Boediono and Laksamana discussed the country's economic situation, apparently in the absence of Dorodjatun, which only fueled further speculation on the possibility of rifts inside the Cabinet.

A close aide to the President confirmed to the Post on Tuesday that Dorodjatun had submitted his resignation letter and Megawati had refused to say anything in response to the letter.

The source said that Dorodjatun was frustrated with the current economic condition, which was heading toward a downturn at the end of this year.

"After Monday's Cabinet meeting, he was very disappointed with the poor performance of the economic team. So he said that he wanted to resign," the source said.

Another source told the Post that should Dorodjatun insist on resigning, Megawati was likely to turn to Rizal Ramli, former coordinating minister for economy and minister of finance under former president Abdurrahman Wahid.

He mentioned that Rizal was invited for dinner on Wednesday with one of Megawati's confidantes, possibly to discuss the proposal.

Megawati, since she announced her Cabinet lineup, had always said that she wanted to keep all of her ministers intact until the end of her tenure in 2004.